What does a BIB FORK do???

Question

I see all racehorses when they work and almost all of them are wearing a bib fork. So what exactly does it do???

Answer 1

It is a hoseman says.

Also there are trainers who do race their horses in dif styles of martingales.  All depends.

Answer 2

it is a running martingale with the middle bit filled in-- this is for safety.A racehorse can fall and then get a front leg in between the fork of a normal running martingale.it also stops both reins getting to the same side of the neck,this can happen in a race ,especially over jumps.

Answer 3

The bib fork is clearly similar to the "running martingale" used in English riding. So, it would keep the horse from throwing his head up and evading the bit. I have always wondered, though, why racehorses get the big "bib" part. A running martingale does not have that bib part. And why is the bib fork used so frequently for works but never in actual races? Maybe someone else can enlighten us further!